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Cleaning and Maintaining Your Windows
Cleaning Window and Door Frames
labels will generally be located in inconspicuous locations in the jamb
track of windows or can only be seen when the window is open.
Vinyl and aluminum windows and doors come closer to being
maintenance free than any other exterior building product on the
market today. They may become dirty just as does a freshly painted
house or a new automobile, or any other product, which is exposed to
atmospheric conditions.
Caution: Use extreme care when
removing labels. Avoid scratching
the glass with razor blades or other
sharp tools.
However with very little effort, you can keep your windows and doors
clean. In most cases, a heavy rain is sufficient to clean these products,
or you can wash them down with an ordinary garden hose.
Do not wash the windows or doors with a high-pressure spray.
The extreme pressure could crack or destroy the caulking around the
window or door.
If neither rain nor hosing does a satisfactory job, follow these
simple instructions:
Normal Maintenance
Wash using a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled soft bristle brush.
For textured surfaces, use only a soft bristle brush to avoid smearing
the stain into the grooves of the texture.
To wash an entire house, start at the top and work down to the bottom
in order to prevent streaking.
For dirt and stains that are difficult to remove such as top soil, motor oil,
lithium grease, crayon, felt-tip pen, caulking, lipstick, grass, bubble gum,
mold and mildew, use readily available household cleaners that can be
mixed with water, such as Fantastik®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, Windex®,
Lysol®, Lestoil®, or a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%).
Most cleaners are inefficient in cleaning stains such as pencil, paint, oil,
and tar. In these cases you may wish to use a mildly abrasive cleaner,
such as Soft Scrub®, Ajax®, Bon Ami®, etc., but please remember, the
use of any abrasive material could have a deleterious effect on
surface appearance.
For exterior applications, the method above can be followed; however, a
garden hose can be used to dislodge any soil and perform the final
rinse. Caution should be used, for many operable windows and doors
are not designed to withstand direct, full-pressure, full-volume spray
from a typical garden hose. Such windows may allow water to
penetrate into unwanted locations when subjected to such a spray.
When using a garden hose, always apply the water at a low volume,
using moderate water pressure, and an indirect spray. Always start with
windows on the upper floors and work down. Minimize the amount of
water running over the lower portions of the building to avoid other
stains or damage.
Label Removal
Only remove temporary labels that do not indicate certification of
the products. Temporary labels are generally applied to the glass
and obviously impede the view. Permanent labels such as AAMA and
WDMA product certification labels are not to be removed. Permanent
Note: Masking tape should not be
used on glass surfaces. Masking tape
may, when heated by sunlight, bake
into the glass and/or window frame,
causing damage
when removed.
Sash Lubrication
Occasionally the sash operates with difficulty and needs minor
lubrication. Tracks should always be lubricated according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Before lubricating movable panel tracks, the installer
should verify that
installer/homeowner
the
lubricant
compatible
withisthe
vinyl, aluminum,
otheraluminum,
materials
should
verify isthat
the lubricant
compatible
with theorvinyl,
used
in the
products'
When silicone
aerosol
sprays are used,
or other
materials
usedassembly.
in the product’s
assembly.
We recommend
a
they
be polish
prevented
fromresults
contacting
locking
sprayshould
furniture
for best
on anyplastic
plastic
parts. mechanisms
Avoid using
because
the plastics
may
be made
of impact
polycarbonate
silicone aerosol
sprays
because
some
solventsresistant
may dissolve
plastic
materials
which
will begin
to dissolve
fromthe
thelife
solvents
in
components,
and/or
prematurely
shorten
of the contained
Insulated Glass.
these sprays. We recommend a spray furniture polish for best results on
any plastic parts.
IMPORTANT: Do Not Paint Vinyl or Aluminum Windows
Special Information On Exterior “ Weep Holes”
Some of our window and
door products come with built in exterior water drainage systems that
we refer to as "weep holes." These "weep holes" appear on the
exterior of our window and door products at the sill area.
There are two weep holes on each unit, which are designed to have
this type of exterior water
drainage system. These
"weep holes" must remain
Water that may accumulate
clear and open to the
on the sill will drain down
exterior elements.
the weepage path.
IF THESE HOLES ARE
BLOCKED, YOU MAY
HAVE THE POSSIBILITY
FOR WATER
INFILTRATION
INSIDE YOUR HOME!
Water exits through
the weep hole(s)
Weepage Path
Adjusting Rollers on Sliders
Adjustment of the rollers can usually be accomplished in one of two
ways. Some roller housings are not adjustable, but can be raised or
lowered by placing or removing spacers under the housing. To remove
or add spacers, follow the directions above for sash removal. Then,
remove the housing and make the necessary adjustments.
Other rollers can be adjusted by a simple turn of a screw, which raises
and lowers the sash. In many cases, the sash does not have to be
removed. Always check for an access hole, which allows for adjustment
of the rollers prior to removal of the sash. Holes will either be exposed
to view or will be covered by a plastic hole plug. Hole plugs can be
easily removed by gentle force, using your fingernails or a flat, thin
spatula. Once you have gained access to the adjustment screw, simply
turn the screw to adjust the sash, either higher or lower.
Cleaning Roller Tracks on Doors and Sliders
The roller track will often collect construction debris, which will result in
rough operation of the sash. If the sash does not glide smoothly across
the sill, check the sill track for debris. To clean the roller track, simply
use a vacuum cleaner to pick up the loose material, then use a cloth or
sponge and soap and water to finish the cleaning.
Patio Door Maintenance
Locking Mechanism Adjustment
Sliding glass doors are very similar to sliding windows, with the
exception of the locking mechanism provided. Locking mechanisms
can be adjusted by turning the adjustment screws. To make
adjustments to the lock, unlock and open the door until full access to
the locking jamb is permitted. Inspect the lock for attachment and
adjustment screws. To adjust the amount of throw (reach) the lock cam
will have, simply rotate the adjustment screw, then close the door and
throw the lock. Check the clearance again by trying to open the door
while in the locked position. A limited amount of play should be
allowed between the lock and the keeper.
Patio Door Screen Adjustment:
Screens can be designed a number of different ways. Regardless of
whether the screen rolls on rollers at the sill or is mounted to a roller
housing in the head, minor adjustments can be made. If the screen has
rollers at the sill, check the opposing ends of the screen frame for
access holes, which will allow for adjustment of the screen. If the
screen is mounted with rollers at the head, screen adjustment should
be accomplished either from the ends or from the face of the screen.
By turning the adjustment screws, the screen will raise and lower at
each end to ensure smooth operation.
Cleaners for Stain Removal of Vinyl Window and Door Frames
Fantastik®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, A solution of 30% vinegar and 70% water, Windex®
Lestoil®
Fantastik®
®
Fantastik , Water based cleaners
®
Fantastik , Lysol®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, Windex®
Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®
Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, Windex®
®
Fantastik , A solution of 30% vinegar and 70% water, Windex®
Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, Windex®
Soft Scrub®
Brillo® Pad
Soft Scrub®
Fantastik®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, Windex®
Soft Scrub®
®
®
Fantastik , Lestoil , Murphy’s Oil Soap®
Gum
Crayon
DAP® (oil based caulk)
Felt-tip Pen
Grass
Lipstick
Lithium Grease
Mold and Mildew
Motor Oil
Oil
Paint
Pencil
Rust
Tar
Top Soil
Do not use cleaners containing organic solvents or other aggressive ingredients because they could affect the surface appearance. Examples of such cleaners are: chlorine bleach,
liquid grease remover, strong soaps, nail polish remover and detergents containing organic solvents. IMPORTANT: DO NOT PAINT VINYL OR ALUMINUM PRODUCTS.
Products are registered trademarks of their respected companies.
– Monday Through Friday 8 am to 5 pm EST
Western Customer Care 888-417-1162 – Monday Through Friday 8 am to 5 pm MDT
Customer Care 717-365-2500
*AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
650 West Market Street • Gratz, PA 17030 • www.miwd.com
For additional product information, technical documents, installation instructions and warranty information, please visit: www.miwd.com
MI Windows and Doors, Inc. is a J.T. Walker Company
MIP-1854 3/05